The pork-based insult has gained renewed prominence after an article in the Times newspaper reported some were saying it was a racial slur used by those supporting Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to attack middle-aged men.

“Gammon” has been tweeted over 40,000 times in the past 24 hours.

Where did it come from?

The term was first used as an insult by viewers of the BBC’s Question Time programme in 2016.

However, “gammon” gained popularity after a collage of contributors to Question Time – each middle-aged, white and male – was shared along with the phrase “Great Wall of Gammon” in 2017.

Is it racist?

I’m appalled by the term “gammon” now frequently entering the lexicon of so many (mainly on the left) & seemingly be accepted. This is a term based on skin colour & age – stereotyping by colour or age is wrong no matter what race, age or community. It is just wrong